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| "Laxmi and Sunitha with their Dad" |
Family reunion @ LSN Foundation
Sunita (17) and Laxmi (14) grew up in a small village on the outskirts of Hyderabad. When they were young their mother died from an unknown illness. The girls were left with one parent, a drunken father who rarely works and does not make enough money to cover their basic needs.
Sunita was sent by her father to work at a factory while Laxmi was still attending school. Sunita was paid a small amount once a month which her father used to support his drinking habit. The money Sunita was making wasn’t enough to support the family. The girls were struggling daily for food and were in a constant dilemma whether to forego their pride and beg for food or simply to go hungry. When their father decided to send Laxmi to work as well, Sunita knew something had to change. She did not want her little sister to be deprived of an education too Finally, 3 years ago, a concerned member of the family (a sister of the deceased mother) decided to take action. The aunt called an acquaintance who worked at the LSN Foundation. The girls were immediately taken away to a Rainbow Home where they were provided with food, accommodation and education. Their father was not at home at the time the girls were taken and had no knowledge of what happened to them.
Within the last month the Rainbow Home staff began noticing that the girls were not eating and were becoming less sociable. They were dreaming of their father often and feeling guilty. The girls decided they needed to see their father. At first the Home’s staff rejected the request and explained that they did not know the father's whereabouts and even if they could find him he might be a danger to them. Eventually the foundations' management found the father and decided to arrange a meeting. The girls were taken to a supervised 3 hour visit and saw their father for the first time in 3 years. The father is in Dhulapalli, near Kompally, a village on the outskirts of India. He is currently living in a small hut on the property of his employer. His job includes cutting the logs and other physical work. The father continues to abuse alcohol and is ill. When the girls saw him they asked if he ever wondered where they were or felt the need to see them. Their father replied he that he had inquired about them for two years without success. When Sunita saw the state her father was living in, she began cleaning his hut and washing the dishes.
Within the last month the Rainbow Home staff began noticing that the girls were not eating and were becoming less sociable. They were dreaming of their father often and feeling guilty. The girls decided they needed to see their father. At first the Home’s staff rejected the request and explained that they did not know the father's whereabouts and even if they could find him he might be a danger to them. Eventually the foundations' management found the father and decided to arrange a meeting. The girls were taken to a supervised 3 hour visit and saw their father for the first time in 3 years. The father is in Dhulapalli, near Kompally, a village on the outskirts of India. He is currently living in a small hut on the property of his employer. His job includes cutting the logs and other physical work. The father continues to abuse alcohol and is ill. When the girls saw him they asked if he ever wondered where they were or felt the need to see them. Their father replied he that he had inquired about them for two years without success. When Sunita saw the state her father was living in, she began cleaning his hut and washing the dishes.
After 3 hours of talking the girls concluded the meeting and gave the father a staff member’s phone number in case he wanted to contact them.
After 3 hours of talking the girls concluded the meeting and gave the father a staff member’s phone number in case he wanted to contact them.
